Vegan, recycled, cruelty-free
Choosing the right materials is at the forefront of each collection, and in many ways is the most important part of the design process. Every single material used in a Mashu bag is 100% vegan, and has been carefully selected for it’s sustainable qualities.
100% VEGAN
MADE IN THE EU
RATED GOOD
VERIFIED BY RENOON
1% FOR THE PLANET
Our materials
Uppeal
Apple leather is a sustainable alternative to traditional leather, made from leftover cellulose fibers from the apple juicing industry and rejected apples. Gathered in Tyrol, Italy, it's repurposed in Milan.
The waste from juicing and jams is usually thermally destroyed or deposited in landfills. Currently there is an estimate of 30,000 tons of apple waste. Each meter contains 8 apples.
The backing of this material is made from GRS certified polyester and cotton.
Uppeal is made in Italy, their factory implements green energy which has been certified.
To care for your Apple leather bag, wipe spills immediately, avoid harsh chemicals, and store in the provided dust bag away from damp or sunlit areas.
BioVeg
Bioveg is an Italian-made vegan leather (PETA certified) made with recycled polyester from plastic bottles and bio polyols, obtained from non-food and GMO-free corn crops.
BioVeg has an LCA certification (Life cycle assessment) which determines the environmental impact connected to the individual production steps of the materials.
80% of the energy is self generated with a solvent recovery system recapturing 99% yield along with solar powered energy throughout the factory.
BioVeg is GRS (global recycle standard) certified and FSC certified.
To care for your Bioveg bag, wipe spills promptly, avoid harsh chemicals, and store in the provided dust bag away from damp and sunlit areas.
Oleatex
Oleatex a waste material from the olive industry in Turkey. Is all made in Turkey within a radius of 100km. The material is created from ground up olive pomace. Using solvent free solutions with a patented formula and no water usage. Oleatex can be recycled after its use. Holding many certifications from OEKO tex, PETA approved vegan and ISO certifications.
To care for your Oleatex leather bag, wipe spills immediately, avoid harsh chemicals, and store in the provided dust bag away from damp or sunlit areas.
Pinatex
Piñatex is a material made from pineapple plant leaves, a byproduct usually discarded.Its production creates additional income for Pineapple farming communities. The material is a closed loop production. After extracting fibers, leftover biomass can be used as fertilizer or biofuel.
The Pineapple leaf fibre created is combined with corn based polylactic acis (PLA) then is dyed with GOTS certified pigments and resin give additional strength, durability and water resistance.
To care for your Piñatex bag, clean marks with water and a soft cloth. Store in dustbag provided and store away from damp and sunlit spaces.
Organic cotton
We use GOTS-certified organic cotton from the Aegean region, sourced via a supplier in the Netherlands. GOTS certification ensures the cotton is free from GMOs, harmful chemicals, and child labor. The cotton also avoids allergenic dyes. Organic cotton production involves environmentally friendly pest control, manual weed removal, and manual picking without defoliation. Additionally, it emphasises responsible water management and soil restoration through natural fertilisation.
We use organic cotton in most of our linings. If you should get any stains on the lining, use a damp cloth to wipe it or wet wipe to remove stain. Depending on the bag you have you might be able to pull the lining slightly out of the bag to spot clean it with some water or a gentle fabric stain remover.
“Transparency in our supply chain is crucial. You cannot begin your sustainability journey without knowing where everything comes from, and who has made it.”
Ioanna Topouzoglou
MASHU FOUNDER & CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Why we don’t use leather
Between the tannery and the dye house, leather receives multiple applications of chemical preservatives, colorants, stiffeners, and modifiers to give it its desired finish. These additives are harmful to the environment and human health, and make the material impossible to biodegrade.
On top of the leather production process, animal husbandry is one of the leading causes of climate change, due to the heavy use of resources needed including land, water, food and fuel.
As a brand, we are acutely aware that some vegan leather alternatives can be just as harmful in terms of resources used. That’s why we spend a huge amount of our time researching to find the lowest impact alternatives to leather available in the market. Our efforts, findings and solutions are ever evolving.
Working with local artisans
Our production ethos pivots around the idea of local. Our handbags are made in Athens, Greece by small, family run factories or individual artisans. We collaborate to improve our practises and reduce waste in the production process.
Every single part of the Mashu bag is sourced from within the EU, with the exception of our zips. Sourcing and manufacturing locally builds a healthier economy, has a smaller carbon footprint and supports the region’s workforce.
Free repairs for life
Our ethos has always been to buy less, and buy better. We offer all Mashu customers complimentary repairs on their bags for life.
By doing this, we aim to encourage a slower consumption mindset, where Mashu customers see their bag as something to be cherished for a lifetime, not a season.
We aim to progress, learn and evolve to reduce our impact and operate as sustainably and ethically as possible, with every season.
If you have any questions about our materials and how to care for them please contact us at customercare@itsmashu.com
